COUNTER ORGANISATIONS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 15169, 7 December 1912, Page 9

COUNTER ORGANISATIONS.

[BY TELEGRAPH.— press association.] Chbistctiubch, Friday.

At a meeting, attended by 50 people, including several ladies, and composed chiefly o£ public school teachers, it was decided that a league should be formed in Christchurch to oppose the platform of the Bible in Schools League, and to support the present system of free, secular, compulsory education. Officers were appointed, Mr. J. Caughley, M.A., being elected president. Following is the basis of the platform referred to the committee appointed to draw up the league's platform :—(1) While recognising the value of the Bible and of religion, wo maintain that the policy proposed by the Bible in Schools League is opposed to civil and religious liberty, and is a menace to our national system of education; (2) we therefore pledge ourselves to defend the present national secular system of education (3) we also pledge ourselves to resist the proposal to take a referendum on a question which, deals with religion and liberty of conscience.

Wellington, Friday. A largely-attended public meeting, in the Town Hall to-night, presided over by the Mayor, decided to form a National Schools Defence League, to defend the existing national system of education. The following resolutions were passed -(1) That this meeting is of opinion there should be no departure from the existing free secular and compulsory system of State education; (2) as the proposals of the Bible in Schools League raise an issue involving both for parents and teachers, matters of conscience, this meeting is of opinion that no such issues should be determined by means of a. general plebiscite or refereudum. ,